WASHINGTON - President George W Bush said today that the aircraft attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon had "ended thousands of lives" and in responding America would make no distinction between "the terrorists and those who harbour them."
Bush, for the first time alluding to the enormity of
the casualties in the attacks, said: "Thousands of lives were suddenly ended by evil, despicable acts of terror."
All 266 people aboard four airliners that were hijacked early today and then crashed into the US landmarks were believed dead as well as thousands more who worked in the New York World Trade Centre and others in the Pentagon near Washington.
"These acts of mass murder were intended to frighten our nation into chaos and retreat, but they have failed. Our country is strong. Terrorist acts can shake the foundation of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America," Bush said in a televised address to the nation.
"The search is under way for those who are responsible for these evil attacks. We will make no distinction between the terrorists who committed those attacks and those who harbour them," Bush said.
- REUTERS
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Emergency telephone numbers for friends and family of victims
These numbers are valid for calls from within New Zealand, but may be overloaded at the moment.
United Airlines: 0168 1800 932 8555
American Airlines: 0168 1800 245 0999
NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: 0800 872 111
US Embassy in Wellington (recorded info): 04 472 2068
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